The Life of Cubby Carl

My grandfather on my mother's side, Carl Whiteside, lived an eventful life. I choose to write my blog post on his life because he was involved in many important investigations such as the case of JonBenet Ramsey's murder.

Throughout my research, I consulted my mother, grandmother, and my aunt on my dad's side of the family. I also utilized Family Search, news articles, and his obituary on the Baltimore Sun. 

In our family, we refer to Carl Whiteside as "Cubby Carl". He got this name because my oldest brother couldn't pronounce "Cowboy Carl" as a toddler, so Cubby Carl stuck.

"Cubby" Carl W. Whiteside was born on February 11, 1942 in Catonsville, Maryland. He graduated from Catonsville High School, then went on to serve four years with the United States Coast Guard in Cape May, New Jersey. 

He moved back to Maryland after his service and began his police career through the Maryland State Police then relocated again to Aurora, Colorado in the 1960's. Once retired, Carl moved once more to Bradenton, Florida and lived there from 1999 until his passing in November of 2011. He fought lung cancer for two years before his death.

Carl Whiteside held the title of the former Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. He took his job seriously and his career was an important part in his life and his character. After joining the CBI in 1970, he moved up the ranks until he became director in 1987. According to his co-worker, former Denver prosecutor and retired District Judge Dick Spriggs, Carl was the "best criminal investigator [he] ever saw". 

My grandfather is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia with full military honors. This military cemetery is the burial site of many notable people such as astronauts, Medal of Honor recipients, families of Presidents, Presidents, Revolutionary War veterans, etc. "Several members of the Kennedy family are also buried here, as are George Washington's step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, and Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln," according to the cemetery's website.

My aunt remembers Cubby Carl fondly and tells the story of Carl misremembering my aunt's name, Joan, and calling her Joyce whenever he called. "I could listen to him talk forever because he always had the best stories. Especially his stories about the CBI, I always thought he was so interesting. I was only around him a couple times, but he was always a clean and particular person," says aunt Joan.